Abstract

The effects of water turbulence on rotifer communities were experimentally studied under different predation pressures. When the larvae of the phantom midge (Chaoborus flavicans) were present in turbulent water, the abundance of most rotifer taxa was enhanced. Especially the genera Chromogaster, Keratella, Polyarthra, and Trichocerca, increased in abundance. In calm water, chaoborids did not affect the rotifer community. In turbulent water predation by chaoborids was targeted more towards cladocerans (Bosmina sp.) and predation pressure on rotifers was relaxed. Additionally, reduced competition with cladocerans probably contributed to the increase of rotifer abundance. Turbulence alone had no significant effect on rotifer abundance because their individual size was small compared with the diameter of the turbulent eddies. The study suggested that the effects of turbulence on rotifers is not direct but takes place through changed predator-prey relations, i.e., the effect depends on the abundance of invertebrate predators. In aquatic ecosystems with a high density of chaoborids, increasing turbulence can considerably increase the abundance of rotifers.

Keywords

Rotifers; Turbulence; Predation; Invertebrate predators

Published in

Hydrobiologia
2019, Volume: 828, number: 1, pages: 339-351
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Hekim, Zeynep

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development


UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3823-5

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/97572